Meat-slitting machine



March 7, 1939. MJ. P, sPANG MEAT-SLLTTING MACHINE Sheefs-Sheet Vl Filed Feb. 21, 1935 InvenToTx F? Spun@ Ays.

March 7," 1939.

v Filed Feb.l 21, 195e e sheetsfsneei 2v Fig. 2

March 7, 1939, J. P. sPANG MEAT-SLITTING MACHINE Fiied Feb.-21, 193e 6 sheets-sheet s InvehToTz March 7, 1939.

4 J. F. sPANG MEAT-SLI'TTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21.` 195e e sheets-sheet 4 A TTyS.

March 7; ,1935). J. P. sPANG A MEAT-SLITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2l, ,1936 6 Sheelzs-Sheei 5 lfllllllllll- ATTys.

March 7, 1939. J. I?. SPANG MEAT-sLlTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21. 193e e sheets-sheet e` vl@baser-25a" 1S m I8 ATB/S.,

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE MEAT-SLITTING MACHINE Joseph P. Spang, Quincy, Mass. Application February 21, 1936, Serial No. 65,044 27 Claims. (Cl. 17-27) This invention relates to meat-slitting ma- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the operachines of the type which includes an inclined plattion of turning the turntable. form situated beneath the slitting knives together Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-'l, Fig. 6.

with means for conveying the slices of meat to be Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8, Fig. 7. slit from the upper end to the lower end of the Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrat- 5 platform past the knives, thereby to cause the ing the guard for the knives. slits to be cut in the meat. Fig. 10 is a section on the line Iii-II), Fig. 9. One object of the invention is to provide an Fig. l1 is a view showing the adjustment of improved meat-slitting machine of this type the platform for cutting slits of different depths. 10 which is constructed so that the angular position Fig. 12 is a transverse section for the platform 10 of the platform can be varied thereby to vary the showing the manner in which the turntable is prodepth of the slit cut in the meat. vided.

A further object of the invention is to provide Fig. 13 is a View of the under side of the block I9. a meat-slitting machine of this type in which the The knives of the meat-slitting machine are 15 platform is a rocking p1atform swingable from a in the form of rotary disk knives I which are 15 position in which one end is elevated to a reverse mounted on a shaft 2 journalled in the end position in which the other end is elevated, and frames 3 and of the main supporting frame. in which the meat is conveyed from the upper to These knives are power-driven from a suitable the lower end of the platform on a turntable tomotor 5 carried by the base portion of the frame,

gether with means to turn the table after it has Said motor having a driving pulley 6 which is 20 made one pass beneath the knives so that upon belted by means of a belt 'I to a larger pulley 8 the second pass the slits will be cut in the meat on the knife shaft 2. at an angle to those made during the first pass of 9 indicates the swinging or tiltable platform the meat. which is situated beneath the knives and is shown A further object of the invention is to provide as mounted on a rocker shaft Ill journalled in 25 means for normally locking the table at the the end frames 3 and 4, said platform 9 being upper end of the tilting platform and means for tiltable from an inclined position shown in full locking the tilting platform in position which lines, Fig. 1, to a reverse inclined position shown latter means is constructed to release the lock in the dotted lines. The platform is made with a for the table simultaneously with the locking of frame portion il to which is secured the bearing 30 the platform in its operative position. brackets I2 that are fast on the shaft I0, and

A further object of the invention is to provide which carry WO Plates I3 and I4 that fOrm bea meat-slitting machine having a tilting platform tween them a guiding S1017 I5.

with power-driven slitting knives and means for The slice of meat I6 to be slit is conveyed flOm reversing the direction of rotation of the slitting one end to the other of the platform on a meatknives as the inclination of the platform is resupporting table Il which rests on two rails I8 versed. carried by the plates I3 and I4 and which is Other objects of the invention are to improve guided in ii'iS movement by the guiding SiOt I5. meat-slitting machines of this type in various The table I'I has rigid therewith ai guiding block 40 particulars such as will be more fully hereinafter I9, said block being fast on a stud 20 which is se- 40 set forth. cured to and depends from the table I'l. This In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a guiding 10100K I9 iS PlOVided With an annular selected embodiment of the invention, groove 2| which occupies the slot I5 and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a meat-slitting machine the inner edges of the guiding plates I3 and I4 are with the cover plate for one of the end frames received. The lower end of the guiding block I9 45 removed. Y has the square guiding portion 22, one side of Fig. 2 is a view of the machine as seen from which rests against a guiding rib 23 on the underthe opposite side with the cover plate of the end side of the plate I3. This guiding rib cooperates frame also removed. with the flat face of the guiding portion 22 to Fig. 3 is a plan view with the knives broken out prevent the table Il from turning during its 50 to show better the construction of the platform. travel from one end to the other of the platform. Fig. 4( is an end view with the platform in hori- In using the meat-slitting machine the tilting zontal position and with part broken out. table 9 is first placed in a horizontal position as y Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the means shown in the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1 and a for locking the turntable to the platform. slice of meat I6 is placed on the table I1, the 55 Aside of the platform.

' Arigid therewith .which is pivoted at 3'! to the latter being at this time looked to the platform at the end a thereof. The platform is then swung into its first inclined position shown in full lines Fig. 1 with the end a elevated, the table is unlocked and moves downwardly to the lower end of the platform 9 thereby carrying the meat underneath the knives l with the result that the slits will be cut in the meat.

The swinging platform 9 is then swung into the reversely-inclined position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, which operationraises into elevated position the right-handY end b of the platform'which then has the meat-supporting table thereon. Such meat-supporting table is then moved downwardly from the elevated right-handrendab of the platform, to the lo-wer left-hand end a so that the meat will be conveyed under'the'lknives arsecond time.

The table is preferably in the form of a turntable and means are provided for giving -the table a turning movement-after it has.made itsrst pass beneath the knives andA before.- it makesthe second pass so thattheseries of slits which are cut in the meat during the second pass beneath the knives will be at an angle toand crossing those which were'firstmade in the meat. For thus turning the turntable "1. employ a device similar to that illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No. 64,850,1'lled Februaryl29,`.l936, andwhich comprises a dog 24 pivoted at`25.n an opening 25 formed .in Lthe guidingrail 23,. said dog being acted on by a spring 2l' normally holding it in itsl operative.positionshown in Fig. 3. As the turntable il approaches the. lowerend b of the platform when the latter is in the full 'line position, Fig. 1, the flatface of theguiding portion. 22 iscarried vby the nose of the dog..24,

.thelatter swinging backwardly against the action of the spring 2l to permit thisoperation. When .the..turntable ill moves in the other direction.

after theplatform `9.h`as .been swung into its dotted line position, Fig. 1, one` corner-.of the:

.square .portion22 will engage the YdogZllso that continued. .movement of the turntable longitudinally of the slot 5 will-give said-turntable a .turning movement through 90. Y

Means are provided for releasably locking the swinging platform9 in either of its two inclined lpositions represented by the full and. dotted lines .a locking segment 28 secured tothe end-frame 4 and .provided with a plurality of notchesadapted in Fig. 1. Forthis purpose there vis provided to receive a locking latch. 29 carried by the .platform. This locking latch 29 is on theend-lof-an arm..3|l secured toand extending from a slide 3| which rests against the underside of the plateY S4 .and is retained in position bysuitable guides 32.

Said vslide has attachedthereto one .end of a pulling. spring 4|, the. other endof whichA is anchoredto the platform. Atthe left-hand end said slide is provided withthe` depending portion .33 which is `connectedto afinger-piece-- 34 pivoted ait-35 to a bracket |35 secured to the under- The depending ,portion 33.0f the slide. has a laterally-extending. arm 36 finger-piece 34 intermediate of its ends.

The platform 9 is shown as having a handheld ..38 depending from its underside and when the operator grasps this handhold and l presses on the finger-piece 34 with his ngers. to swing said quadrant 28. Thisquadrantz28 isprovidedwith turntable H.

. movement.

a notch for locking the platform 9 either in the full line position shown in Fig. 1 or in the reversely-inclined dotted line position, Fig. 1. The notch for locking the platform in the full line position is indicated at 39 and that for locking the platform in the dotted line position, Fig. 1 is indicated at 40.

Means are provided for normally locking the turntable l1 at the left-hand end of the platform in Fig. 1, which means are released by the operationof locking the platform in its'operative inclined position.

When the machine is to be used the operator will swing the platform in the midway position -fshown-'by'the dot-and-dash lines in. Fig. 1 and I6 of meat on the At this time the turntable is locked to .the..platform. The operator then swings the platform into the iirst inclined position sho-wn in full1lines,'Fig. l, and then releases the finger-piece 34 whereby the spring 4| will move the slide 3| forwardly to carry -the latch. 29 into .locking engagement with the `notch 39. v'This forward movement of theslide.. releases the lock. for the will then placey the slice .turntableso that thelatter is then'free to move downwardly overthe platform to carry the. meat beneath the knives. .'Ihelock for the turntable comprises a lockinglatchdZ which is carried. on

.aspring arm 431secured at its left-handend to the .bracket |35 (seeFig. 5). The nose 44 of this latch 42 is adapted to engage in .any one of a plurality of recesses 45 formed in the under face of the guiding portion22, the spring arm -43 yieldingly holding theY nose 44 in locking engagement with the recess. The depending portion 33 of the slide 3| has a forwardly-extending portion 46 -.which .carries Aa latch-releasing dog 47 adapted to engage the bevelediace 48 on the rear end of thev latch 42 when the slide is moved forwardly to bring the platform-locking latch 29 into'the notch .39. The engagement o-f the dog 41 against the cam face llduringsuch forward movement -of the slidedepresses thelatch V42, as shown Vin full lines Fig. l and dotted lines Fig. 5, thereby releasing it fromlocking engagement-with the turntable and freeing. the latter for its downward Such movement ispartially at least a v gravitational movement although the operator may, if desired, apply any forcenecessary to start the turntable downwardly. 0

It will beunderstoodthat the knives arefrotat- .ing very rapidly and if at this time they are rotating counter-clockwise .inF-ig. 1 the action `of the knives on the meat will augment the action of gravity in feeding the turntable past the knives. It will be remembered thatas the turntable approaches the lower end b of the platform in Fig. 1, the guiding block22 wipes past the spring- .pressed dog. 24. vSaiddog willserve to retain the turntable temporarily at ysaidend b` of the platform when the latter is shifted from the first .inclined position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, to: the

reversely-inclined position shown` in dotted lines with the end b elevated.

In order to thus swing the platform it is necessary rst to release the platform-locking latch 29 by pulling backwardly on the finger-piece 34 and after the platform hasbeen swunginto the reversely-inclined dotted line position, Fig. l; then the finger-piece 34 is again released to allow the platform-locking latch 29l to enter the notch 40.

There is provided means whereby when the platform-locking latch 29 is engaged in the notch 40 the turntable will be given an initial movement towardy the. left, Fig.. 1, sufcent" to vcarry itx;

past the dog 24 and to cause the turning movement of the turntable, and thereafter the turntable with the meat thereon will gravitate downwardly underneath the knives I, which cut the second series o-f slits in the meat.

If at this time the knives are rotating clockwise in Fig. 1 the action of the knives on the meat will augment the action of gravity in feeding .the turntable forwardly.

The means for initiating the downward movement of the turntable I1 from the end b of the platform comprises a lever 49 pivoted to the platform 9 at 59 and acted on by a spring 5I which tends to move it forwardly away from the end b of said platform. This lever 49 is normally held in its retracted position with the spring 5| under tension by means of a latch 52 pivoted to the platform 9 at 53 and acted on by a spring 54 which normally tends to hold it in the full line or operative position shown in Fig. '7.

Means are provided whereby when the platform-locking latch 29 enters the notch 40 in the quadrant 28 to lock the platform in the dotted line inclined position, Fig. l, the latch 52 will be raised, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. '7, thereby releasing the lever 49, and as soon as this occurs the pulling action of the spring 5l will swing the lever 49 from the full toward the dotted line position, Fig. 6. During this movement said lever engages the block I9 which is fast on the stud 20 of the turntable I1, thereby moving the block and the turntable forwardly in the direction of the arrow c, Fig. 6. During this movement the corner of the square portion 22 of the block engages the dog 24 so that during the continued movement of the turntable in the direction of the arrow c said turntable will be given a quarter turn about its axis, as sho-wn in Fig. 6 so' that when the meat is carried beneath the knives in its travel from the end b of the platform to the end thereof the slits which the knives cut in the meat will extend at right angles to those which were cut when the meat made its lrst pass beneath the knives.

The latch 52 is released from the lever 49 when the platform-locking latch 29 enters the notch 49 through the movement of the slide 3l. It will be remembered that the latch 29 is carried by the slide 3| and moves therewith. The end of the slide 3l is provided with a beveled surface 62 (see Fig. '7) which is adapted to engage the beveled end 63 of the latch 52 when the slide has its operative movement by which the latch 29 is moved into the notch 40 and the engagement of the beveled faces 62, 63 serves to move the left-hand end of the notch downwardly and raise the right or operative end thereof, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 7, such movement of the latch releasing the lever 49.

A restoring mechanism is provided for restoring the lever 49 from the dotted line position in Fig. 6 to its retracted position when the platform is swung from the dotted line position, Fig. 1, to the full line position so that said lever 49 will be restored into its operative position ready to act on the turntable the next time it has traveled from the end a of the platform to the end b thereof.

The lever 49 extends beyond its pivot `59, asv

shown at 55, and this extension is provided with an upstanding pin 56 situated in a notch 51 formed in the edge of a restoring slide 58. This slide extends through two guides 59 and the forward end thereof is connected to a stud 6| eX- tending from the frame end 4. Since the anchoring stud Bl is situated above the axis I9 of the platform it will follow that when the platform is swung from the dotted line position, Fig. 1, to the full line position the restoring slide 58 will be moved lengthwise of the platform in a direction away from the end b and into the dotted line position, Fig. 3. During this movement the end wall 69 of the slot 51 engages the stud 56, thereby swinging the lever 49 into the dotted line position, Fig. 3, and at the same time placing the spring 5| under increased tension. So long as the platform 9 remains in the full line position, Fig. 1, the arm 49 will be held in its retracted position by the engagement of the pin 56 with the wall 55 of the notch.

When the lever 49 is in its retracted position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, it has been carried back of the latch 52. When the platform 9 is swung from the full to the dotted line position, Fig. 1, the restoring slide 58 will be moved back- Wardly relative to the platform, thereby releasing the lever 49 but at this time the latch 52 is in its operative position to engage the lever 49 and retain it in its rearward position, as shown in Fig. 7, and said lever 49 will thus be held retracted until the platform-locking latch 29 has been engaged in the notch 4I] to lock the platform in the dotted line position, Fig. l, such movement releasing the latch 52 as above-described.

The machine herein shown is also constructed to cut slits of different depths in the meat and this is accomplished by adjusting the inclined position of the platform during the meat-slitting operation. With the platform at the inclination shown in Fig. 1 the knives will out a slit substantially through the meat because as the turntable moves downwardly over the platform the upper edge of the turntable just clears the knives. If, on the other hand, the platform is adjusted into a less inclined position than that shown in Fig. l, as shown in full lines, Fig. 11, then the turntable 'I is separated somewhat from the knives so that as the meat is carried beneath the knives by the downward movement of the turntable the slits 64 which are cut in the meat will be of less depth than when the platform is in the position'shown in Fig. 1.

Again if the platform is adjusted into an inclined position between that shown in Fig. 11 and the shown in Fig. 1 so that the upper surface of the turntable will be traveling in the plane represented by the dotted line 55 in Fig. l1 then the slits 54' which are cut in the meat will have a greater depth than when the platform is adjusted in the full line position, Fig. 1l, but a less depth than when the platform is in the full line position, Fig. 1.

To provide for adjusting the platform at these various inclinations the quadrant 29 is formed with a plurality of notches at its upper end, as shown at 39, 39a. and 39D, and a second group of notches at its lower end, as shown at 49, 40a and 49h. If it is desired to cut relatively shallows slits in the meat, as shown in the full lines, Fig. l1, then when the platform 9 is swung into either of its two inclined positions the platformlocking latch will be engaged with either the notches 39h or 49h. If it is desired to cut deeper slits in the meat then the platform-locking latch 29 will be engaged in the notches 39m or 49a and if it is desired to cut slits of the maximum depth in the meat then the locking latch will be engaged with the two notches 39, 49 when the platform is in its two inclined positions.

In order to make it easy to enter the locking latch 29 into the desired notch I have provided a guard member which is associated with the quadrant and which can be adjusted i-nto different positions, thereby to uncover the desired notches in the quadrant and tocover the other notches so that in any adjusted position of the guard member a pair of notches only will be opened to receive the locking latch 29. This guard member is shown at 66 and is illustrated as pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft I0. The outer edge E? of the guard member is ush and coincides with the outer edge of the quadrant 28. The guard member is provided at its lower portion with a wide notch 68 and at its portion with three notches 69, 'l0 and This guard member 66 can be swung about the shaft I9 and when in one position, as that shown in Fig. 1, the notch 69 of the guard member registers with the notch 40 of the quadrant and the notch 1| of the guard member registers with the notch 39 of the quadrant. The other notches of the quadrant are closed by the guard member so that the only open notches are the notches 39 and 99. Consequently, it is easy for the operator to shift the platform from one inclined position to the other and to engage the locking latch 29 in the proper notches. If the guard member' is shifted upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. l1 then the notch 68 of the guard member will register with the notch 40h of the quadrant and the notch $9 of the guard member will register with the notch 39h, the other notches of the quadrant being closed by the guard member.

With this adjustment the operator simply swings the platform from one position to the other and as there are only two open notches to receive the latch 29 the platform will always be brought into its correct position. If the guard 65 is an intermediate position then the notch t8 thereof will register with the notch 90a of the quadrant and the notch i9 of the guard will register with the notch 39u. of the quadrant thereby to provide for locking the platform in the two positions required for cutting the slits in the meat of an intermediate depth. The guard member 66 has a locking member l2 pivoted thereto at i3 and provided with a locking dog 'lli which extends through a slot l5 in the guard member and is adapted to engage any one of a plurality of notches 'I6 formed on the inner face of the quadrant 28, as shown in Fig. 2. The locking member '|2 is yieldingly held in its locking position by a spring 'H and it is provided with a thumb-piece i8 by which it may be released from locking engagement with any notch 16.

I will preferably employ a reversible driving mechanism'for the knives which is .constructed so that the direction of rotation thereof is reversed as the platform is swung from one inclined position to the other. 'I'his construction is adopted so that each time that the meat passes beneath the knives the portion of the knives engaging the meat will be moving in the same direction as the meat. For this purpose I propose to employ a reversing switch in the motor circuit which is actuated by the swinging of 'the platform from one inclined position to the other.

Such a switch is illustrated in Fig. 2 and is connected to the end member 3 and is housed in the chamber F9 formed between said member and the cover plate 89 which is secured to the ange 8| of the end member. The reversing switch comprises a movable contact member 82 slidable back and forth on two guiding rods 83 which are supported by two plates 84 attached to the flange 8| of the end member 3. This sliding contact member 82 cooperates with two contact members 85 and 89 which are also carried by the supporting rods .83 and are backed by springs |50. The contact member 82 is provided with a plurality of contacts 8'! adapted to engage either one set of cooperating contacts 88 on thel Contact member 85 or another set of cooperating contacts 89 on the contact member 86. When the contact member 82 is in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 with its contacts 8l engaging the'contacts 88 of contact member 85, .the motor will be running in one direction, but when the contact 82 is shifted to the left to bring its contacts 81 into engagement with the contacts 89 of the contact member 86 the motor will be running in an opposite direction.

Means are provided for shifting the contact member 82 from one position to the other by the rocking movement of the platform 9. For this purpose the shaft I0 of the platform has rigid therewith an arm 90 having a slot 9| therein in which is received a pin 92 extending from the contact member 82. Since the arm 90 is rigid with the platform 9 the swinging movement ofthe platform from one position to the other will swing the arm 90 and thereby move the contact member 82 from one extreme position to the other which will result in reversing the motor 5.

I have also provided means for applying a brake to thel knife shaft between each reversal of the motor so that the shaft will be brought to rest while the platform 9 is being turned from one inclined position to the other.

The knife shaft 2 is shown as having a brake drum 93 thereon which is situated in the chamber 19. Cooperating with the brake drum is a brake member 94 which is carried in a verticallymoving yoke 95. The upper end of the yoke has a Vguiding stem 99 projecting therefrom which extends from and is guided by a flange 91 extending from the end wall 3. 98 is a spring encircling the stem and which normally holds the yoke 95 in the loweredV position shown in Fig. 2with the brake 9i separated from the brake drum 93.

The arm 90 is'provided with an extension 99, the upper end of which engages the lower face |00 of the yoke 95. When the platform 9 is turning from one inclined position to the. other the extension 99 will have a corresponding turning movement about the axis |0, and as it swings from one extreme position into a central position the engagement of the upper end of the extension 99 with the'under face |00 of the yoke will raise the f latter and thereby apply the brake 94 to the brake drum 93. This will stop the rotation of the knife shaft and the motor due to inertia. As the platform completes its swinging movement the extension 99 will be swung into the other extreme position thereby releasing the brake. When the movement of the reversing switch has been completed the motor and knife shaft will be started from a position of rest.

|0| indicates a cover member applied to the upper ends of the end frames 3 and 4 and which serves as a protection against the operator being injured by the knives When, however, the platform is in the dotted line position, Fig. l, or the full line position, Fig. 9, a considerable space will be open between the platform and the lower end |03 of the cover |9|. To give added protection I have provided a guard plate |02 which is situated in front of the knivesV and'is connected Cri Velevated to said turntable also to the platform so that when the end a of the platform is lowered as shown in Fig. 9 the guard member 102 will be drawn down in front of the knives. This guard plate ft2 is carried bytwo supports |64, one at each end thereof, which supports are pivotally connected at m5 to the platform 9. 'Ihe ends of the guard plate it? are received in slots m6 formed in studs lill that are secured to the frame ends 3 and i said slots operating as guides for the guard plate. As the platform is swung from one extreme position to the other the guard member 02 is moved up and down in guard slots m6. rThe lower edge 08 of the guard member is spaced sufficiently above the platform 9 to permit the turntable il with the slice of meat I6 thereon to pass beneath the guard member.

When the platform is in the inclined position shown in full lines, Fig. l, the guard member will be in its raised position, but when the platform is swung into the oppositely-inclined position, shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, or full line position, Fig. 9, the guard member will be pulled downwardly into position to function as a guard for the knives l.

I claim:

1. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform, beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is a reverse position in which the other end is elevated, a releasable latch device operable independently of the swinging movement of the platform to hold the platform in either of its inclined positions, and means to feed a slice of meat from the upper end to the lower end of the platform.

2. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to a reverse position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting turntable resting on and directly engaging the platform and having a sliding contact therewith from the elevated end thereof to the lower end, thereby to carry the meat to he slit beneath the knives, being capable of having a turning movement about its axis while in contact with the platform, and means to give the turntable such turning movement.

3. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to a reverse position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting turntable movable on the platform from its elevated end to its lower end by which a slice of meat is carried beneath the knives, and means to turn the turntable by its initial movement away from one end of the platform.

4. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives and swingable from an inclined position with one end elevated to a reversely-inclined position with the other end elevated, releasable locking means to hold the platform in either of its inclined positions, a meat-supporting turntable movable on the platform from its elevated end to its lower end, and means for turning the turntable `after it has reached the lower end of the platform and said platform has been rocked into its reversely-inclined position.

5. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from an inclined position with one end elevated to areversely-inclin'ed position by to carry a with the other end elevated, releasable locking means to hold the platform in either of its inclined positions, a meat-supporting turntable movable on the platform from its elevated end to its lower end, and means for turning the turnthe downward movement of said table when the platform is in its reversely-inclined position.

7. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives and swingable from an inclined position with one end elevated to a reversely-inclined position with the other end elevated, a meatsupporting table movable on the platform from its elevated end to its 'lower end, a spring to initiate the downward movement of said table when the platform is in its reversely-inclined position, means to energize the spring by the swinging movement of the platform, means for locking the platform in its reversely-inclined position, and means to release the spring simultaneously with the locking of the platform.

8. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives and swingable from an inclined position with one end elevated to a reversely-inclined position with the other end elevated, a meat-support` ing turntable movable on the platform from its elevated end to its lower end, a spring to initiate the downward movement of the turntable when the platform is in the reversely-inclined position, and means to turn the turntable during its springimpelled movement.

9. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives and swingable from an inclined position with one end elevated to a reversely-inclined position with the other end elevated, a meat-supporting turntable movable on the platform from its elevated end to its lower end, a spring to initiate the downward movement of the turntable when the platform is in its reversely-inclined position, means to energize the spring by the swinging movement of the platform, a dog to hold the spring energized, a locking latch for holding the platform in its reversely-inclined position, and means to release the dog simultaneously with the locking of the platform in its reversely-inclined position.

10. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, an inclined platform beneath the knives, means to hold the platform at anythe upper to the lower end of the platform thereslice of meat past the knives, and" means to hold the platform at any one of a plurality of different inclinations thereby providing for cutting slits of different depths in the meat.

13. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from an inclined position in which one end is elevated to a reversely-inclined position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting table movable over the platform from its upper end toits lower end, anda releasable latch device for holding the table at the upper end of the platform.

14. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from an inclined position in which one end is elevated to a reversely-inclined position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting table movable over the platform from its upper end to its lower end, a releasable latch for holding the table at the upper end of the platform, and releasable locking means to hold the platform in either inclined position.

15. A meat-slittingmachine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from an inclined position in whichl one end is elevated to a reversely-inclined position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting table movable over the platform from its upper end to its lower end, a releasable latch for holding the table at the upper end of the platform, and means for simultaneously locking the platform in its inclined position and releasing said latch.

16. A meat-slittingr machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from one inclined position to a reversely-inclined position, a meat-supporting table movablel gravitationally from the upper to the lower end of the platform, and means to initiate the gravitational movement of the table from the upper end of the platform when the latter is in itsreversely-inclined position. Y

17. A meat-slitting machinev comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to a position in which Vthe other end is elevated, means for rotating the knives, means to feed a slice of meat from the elevated end of the platform to the lower endthereby to carry the meat beneath the knives, and means operated by the movement of the platform from one inclined position to the reverse inclined position to reverse the direction' ofV rotation of the knives. Y Y

18. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform' beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to a position in which the other end is elevated, means for rotating the knives, means to feed a slice of meat from theelevated end of the platform to the lower end thereby to carry the meat beneath the knives, means operated by the movement of Ythe platform from one inclined position to the reverse inclined position to reverse the direction of rotation of the knives, and means to applya braking action to the platform is in an the rotary knives when intermediate position.

19. A meat-slitting machinefcomprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated into a position in which the other end is elevated, means to convey a slice of meat from the elevated end of the platform to the lower end thereof, .a motor for rotating the knives,

and means to reverse the motor by the movement of theplatform from one inclined -position 4to the other.

20. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary. knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to a reversely-inclined position in which the other end is elevated, means to convey a slice of meat from the upper to the lower end: of the platform, and a guard member connected to the platform and-movable into knifeguarding position when the platform is in its reversely-inclined position.

21. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated into a reversely-inclined position in which the other' end is elevated, and a vertical movable guard plate situated lin front of the knives and connected to the platform and movable into knife-guarding position by the platform when the latter is moved into its reversely-inclined position.

22. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of rotary knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to `a reversev position inwhich the other end is elevated, means for rocking the platform, locking means independent of the platform-rocking means to lock the platform in either of its inclined positions, and means to feed a slice of meat from the upper end to the lower end of the platform.

23. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives adapted to rock from a position in which one end is elevated to a reverse position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting turntable resting directly on the platform and slidable thereover from the lelevated end thereof to the lower end thereby to carry the meat to be slit beneath the knives, said platform having a guiding slot and the turntable having a stud depending therefrom and extending through the slot, and means to turn the turntable.

24. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives adaptedto rock from a position in whichvone end is elevated to a reverse position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting turntable resting directly on the platform and slidable thereover from the elevatedend thereof to Vthe lower end thereby to carry the meat to be slit beneath the knives, and means for turning the turntable during its initialfeeding movement after the platform has been moved into its reversely-inclined posi-tion.

25. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable. from a position in which-one `end is elevated to a reverse position in which* the other end is elevated, a manually-releasable latch device operable independently of vthe swinging movement of the platform to hold the latter in either of its inclined positions, and rmeans to feed a slice of meat from the' upper end to the lower end of the platform. 1

26. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a rocking platform beneath the knives swingable from a position in which one end is elevated to a reverse position in which the other end is elevated, a meat-supporting turntable resting directly on the platform and s'lidable thereover from the elevated end thereof tothe lower end thereby to carry the meat to be slit'- beneath the knives, means to'turn the turntable by its initial movement away from one end of the platform, and means to hold the turntable against turning movement during the remainder of its movement over the platform.

27. A meat-slitting machine comprising a set of knives, a platform beneath the knives, said platform having a slot extending lengthwise thereof, a meat-supporting turntable restingdirectly on the platform and movable thereover from one end thereof to the other thereby to carry a slice of meat beneath the knives, said turntable having a stud extending through the slot, means to give the turntable its turning movement at one portion of its travel over the platform, a guiding rail on the under side of the platform, and means associated with said stud and cooperating with the guide rail to prevent turning movement of the turntable during the 

